What is the ruling on celebrating birthdays?
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Q: What is the ruling on celebrating birthdays?
A: Celebrating birthdays has no basis in the pure Shari'ah; rather, it is a bid'ah (religious innovation); based on the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him):Sahih Muslim 1718a It is agreed upon as authentic. In a wording reported by Muslim and suspended by al-Bukhari (may Allah have mercy on him) in his Sahih, affirming it: Sahih Muslim 1718b.
It is well known that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) did not celebrate his birthday during his lifetime, nor did he order it, nor did his Companions do it, and likewise the Rightly Guided Caliphs, and all his Companions did not do it, and they were the most knowledgeable people about his Sunnah, and they were the most loving people for the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) and the most eager to follow what he brought. So if celebrating his birthday (peace and blessings be upon him) had been prescribed, they would have hastened to it. Likewise, the scholars in the blessed centuries did not do it, and none of them ordered it. So it is known thereby that it is not part of the Shari'ah with which Allah sent Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him). And we testify to Allah the Exalted and all Muslims that if he (peace and blessings be upon him) had done it, or ordered it, or his Companions had done it , we would have hastened to it and called to it; because we, and praise be to Allah, are among the most eager people to follow his Sunnah and to magnify his command and prohibition.
And we ask Allah for us and for all our Muslim brothers steadfastness upon the truth and well-being from everything that contradicts the pure Shari'ah of Allah. Indeed, He is Generous and Bountiful.
A: Celebrating birthdays has no basis in the pure Shari'ah; rather, it is a bid'ah (religious innovation); based on the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him):
'A'isha reported Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) as saying: He who innovates things in our affairs for which there is no valid (reason) (commits sin) and these are to be rejected.
من أحدث في أمرنا هذا ما ليس منه فهو ردHe who did any act for which there is no sanction from our behalf, that is to be rejected.
من عمل عملا ليس عليه أمرنا فهو ردIt is well known that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) did not celebrate his birthday during his lifetime, nor did he order it, nor did his Companions do it, and likewise the Rightly Guided Caliphs, and all his Companions did not do it, and they were the most knowledgeable people about his Sunnah, and they were the most loving people for the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) and the most eager to follow what he brought. So if celebrating his birthday (peace and blessings be upon him) had been prescribed, they would have hastened to it. Likewise, the scholars in the blessed centuries did not do it, and none of them ordered it. So it is known thereby that it is not part of the Shari'ah with which Allah sent Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him). And we testify to Allah the Exalted and all Muslims that if he (peace and blessings be upon him) had done it, or ordered it, or his Companions had done it , we would have hastened to it and called to it; because we, and praise be to Allah, are among the most eager people to follow his Sunnah and to magnify his command and prohibition.
And we ask Allah for us and for all our Muslim brothers steadfastness upon the truth and well-being from everything that contradicts the pure Shari'ah of Allah. Indeed, He is Generous and Bountiful.
Source
binbaz.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.